Anxiety & Chronic Stress
Life can sometimes feel like a constant effort to keep up.
You may find yourself overthinking, worrying, planning, or trying to stay one step ahead. Even when life appears manageable on the outside, it can feel difficult to relax, slow down, or fully enjoy the present moment.
Anxiety can take many different forms. It may show up as constant worry and overthinking, or through perfectionism, difficulty relaxing, trouble sleeping, irritability, and feeling as though you're always carrying more than you can set down.
When Your Brain Is Trying to Protect You
Many people become frustrated with themselves when they can't simply think differently, relax, or let things go.
But anxiety is not simply a matter of logic.
Our brains are designed to prioritize safety and survival. When stress becomes chronic, or when we've experienced difficult or overwhelming events, the brain and nervous system can become highly attuned to potential threats. Often, these responses happen automatically, before we have time to think them through.
Your brain isn't trying to make life difficult.
It's trying to keep you safe.
Living in the Future
Anxiety has a way of pulling us away from the present moment.
We may find ourselves replaying conversations, imagining worst-case scenarios, anticipating problems, or preparing for situations that haven't happened yet.
Many people spend so much time trying to prevent something difficult from happening that they rarely have the opportunity to notice what is happening right now.
Over time, this can become exhausting.
Not because you're doing something wrong, but because your mind has been working hard for a very long time.
It Makes Sense That You're Tired
Anxiety can be exhausting.
Not only because of the thoughts themselves, but because of the effort it takes to stay alert, anticipate problems, prepare for what might happen next, and carry the weight of uncertainty.
Over time, many people find themselves feeling mentally, emotionally, and physically depleted. They become frustrated with themselves for not being able to relax, slow down, or simply let things go.
Often, these responses make more sense than they realize.
If your brain and nervous system have spent years trying to keep you safe, it makes sense that they may have become skilled at scanning for potential threats, even when those threats aren't immediately present.
Sometimes the problem isn't a lack of effort or insight.
Sometimes it's that your system has been working hard for a very long time.
A Question to Consider…
What would become possible if you didn't have to solve everything right now?
Notice what happens when you sit with that question.
What shifts?
What softens?
What feels different?
You don't have to have all the answers today.
Sometimes the first step is simply creating space to notice what is already here.
Getting Started
If you're struggling with anxiety or chronic stress and are wondering whether therapy might be helpful, I'd be glad to talk with you about whether working together feels like a good fit.